A Particular Scheme and Division of the Contents of These Chapters

I shall begin with setting together the materials contained in the said chapters, either as they succeed one after the other, or as they synchronize, and fall in at the same time, one with the other; reserving in part the full proof of my method to the after Exposition: and for the better clearing of this, let us take the two following representations of the church, from the time of her separation unto that of the new Jerusalem; wherein she is presented, Either, In the various conditions she should in herself run through, in her several ages until then, both in respect of the progress of her separation further and further off from Rome, (and so of the increase of her light, purity, and reformation,) and of the persecutions and judgments upon her, and her restitution and deliverance again from under them: Or, In her one uniform, entire, and general condition suiting with all those times of the church, first and last, as partaking within herself of like privileges during the same; and also in special reference to the execution of plagues and punishments, (poured out of the seven vials,) on the enemy. The Holy Ghost hath been pleased to represent the story of the church both these ways. First, The church’s uniform state is set forth in c. xv. and xvi. thus: 1st, In c. xv. 2 — 5, as within herself; 2dly, In v. 6 — 8, of c. xv. in the common and like description of the angels, or out-pourers of the vials proceeding from those churches: which representation of the church, and of these angels all that whole time, becomes the immediate sign or fore runner, (great and wonderful,) of the new Jerusalem, (v. 1, 2,) or that more glorious state of the church to succeed those vials, called in v. 5, “The opening of the temple of the tabernacle” (in distinction from the present state of the church, which is the temple of the seven angels, v. 6,) wherein “there was seen the ark of the testament” (Christ himself,) which stands vailed like the Holy of holies, till all the vials are poured out, c. xi. 19. In comparison therefore with the other church or temple to come “after that” (as v. 5, speaks,) this present is but what the in ward court of the priests was in comparison of The most holy place. The erection therefore of the one is the immediate fore running sign of the other, as proved by v. 1, 5. 3dly, In c. xvi. is the execution and effusion of the seven vials, by the angels, out of this church or inner temple, erected since the first separation from Antichrist, all along those times unto the new Jerusalem, here exhibited in one view in their several orders and successions. Secondly, The church’s chequered state, is scatteredly represented in three parts; the Holy Ghost being pleased thus variously, and in several places to set it forth, (as best suiting to a special end and occasion,) with such descriptive and infallible characters of their times, of the vials they belong unto, and also unto what times of each vial they belong, as cannot deceive us. The first part of the story of the various conditions of the church, during the four first vials, is set forth in c. xiv. 6 — 20; the first erection of the temple of true churches beginning at v. 6, when Waldus and his company first fell off from Rome. Now this preceded the vision of the vials, to shew how the temple was first built and reared, ere the angels, and their vials, proceeding therefrom, should be mentioned: and therefore c. xiv. shews that first part of the church’s story, in all her first comings forth from Antichrist and laying the foundation of churches; but then it breaks off at the time of the fourth vial; for that so far precedes the reformation of the true church, as is respected a separation from Anti christ, and so runs along with such vials as should by degrees

first prepare for his ruin, as the first three or four vials do. The second part of the church’s story is her next state, from the time of the fourth to the fifth vial, supplied from c. xi. 1 — 14, where this story comes in most fitly, rather than in c. xiv. because it was to be an immediate signal of Antichrist’s downfal, and is an exact chronology of the time of the beast’s reign, and the expiration of his forty-two months; to warn and comfort the church against a fatal prevailing of Antichrist over her, just afore the time of his ending: so c. xi. begins with a new reformation of the reformed churches among themselves, and what should befall them thereupon, viz. the killing of the witnessses, between the fourth and fifth, or at most before the fifth seal. The third part of the church’s story from after the fifth seal until the new Jeru-

606 SCYNCHRONISM [REV. XIII.

salem, beginning c. xx. of the book -prophecy, and c. xi. 15, of the seal-prophecy,) is presented c. xix. in its due place: For c. xvii. being but an explanation who the beast is, and where his seat, that the church may discern this Antichrist; and c xviii. being a funeralsong for the pouring out of the fifth vial, when the seat of the beast, (that whore, the city described c. xvii.) is ruined, and Antichrist’s kingdom is probably over; Therefore the church’s state from the fifth vial’s ruining Rome to the new Jerusalem, fitly and orderly comes in after both these digressions; and therefore c. xix. thus begins, “And after these things, (after the desciiption of the city and whore, c. xvii. and her ruin,) I heard the voice of an innumerable company,” &c. thus going on to describe the state of that church then and until the new Jerusalem. Lastly, As the story in c. xiv. contains the first reformation and separation of the church from Antichrist, in several degrees; and c. 1 1 a second, from profane mixture within itself; so c. xix. a third, or personal reformation of the saints themselves in the church, as then with might and main preparing and adorning themselves for the marriage of the Lamb, so evidently near, now that the whore is cast off and burned: and here you may see them getting all they can of “the fine linen” of holiness and growth in grace, which is “the righteousnesses (DICAIOOMATA,) of saints;” that so their Lord and husband might greatly delight in their beauty, as in c. xix. 7, 8. Such is the true general coherence and order of what yet remains to be interpreted: from which my Introduction will proceed to